Royston one step away from Twickenham date after win over Thetford

A date at Twickenham is the goal for Royston (Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images/Harlequins)

Sign up to FREE email alerts from CambridgeLive - daily

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Royston are just one game from Twickenham after beating Thetford 17-5 in the London Junior Vase quarter-final.

The Crows went in at the break 10-5 up through a try from Jonathan Brain before Louis Dummett crossed from a line-out.

Royston missed both conversions, as well as two penalties, before Thetford scored an unconverted try before half time.

Despite having most of the possession in the second half Royston were unable to break through a stubborn Thetford defence until Joe Butcher crossed for a converted try.

Royston director of rugby Mick Jones hailed the performance, against the unbeaten leaders of the Greene King IPA Eastern Counties One, as the best of the season.

He said: “It was fantastic. Probably the best performance of the season against a really good side who are flying in their league and were looking to go all the way.

“Everyone involved dug deep and stuck to the game plan.

“It was a bit of a tight first half, but the second half was mainly us. They put in a good defensive effort though to keep us out and deserve a lot of credit for it.”

Defeat in their last league match against London Welsh Armouries meant that Royston’s play-off hopes in Herts/Middlesex One hang by a thread.

Jones is hoping that they can use the cup run to try and make up the difference to the play-off spot, starting against London French on Saturday.

He said: “We’re looking at the league now. We’ve got a tough game against London French and we have to really win all the rest of our games to stand a chance (of qualifying for the play-offs).

“After we get the next few weeks out of the way we’ll start preparing for the cup.

“Unfortunately we already know a few players will be away but we’ve got a good squad and it’ll give a few of the players a good chance for a run out.”

The semi-final will be played on February 25 and will see Royston face one of Hastings & Bexhill, Maldon, Old Whitgiftians or New Milton.

A poor opening 20 minutes meant that Saffron Walden lost 39-28 away to Chingford in London League 1N.

As in the reverse fixture at Walden earlier in the season, they started disastrously, conceding three tries in the opening 20 minutes to make it 17-0.

Ben Nash reduced the deficit for Walden after nearly 30 minutes when he crossed from a rolling maul following a break from Adam Miles and Ben Nash. Tom Price converted to make it 17-7.

Chingford hit back almost immediately after a loose Walden pass was picked off, allowing them to score their bonus point try.

The score seemed to give some urgency to Walden who capitalised on a Chingford yellow by working their way up the pitch, eventually crossing for the referee to say they were held up.

Walden got a good drive on the resulting scrum and were awarded a penalty try when Chingford were adjudged to pull it down. Price added the extras to make it 24-14.

Walden were then reduced to 14 just before the break when Paul Marshall was penalised for an infringement at the side of a ruck.

The home side took advantage of their extra man, scoring two tries to make it 34-14 after 50 minutes.

The game became about securing the bonus point for Walden and Marshall made up for his earlier misdemeanour upon his return to the pitch, spotting a gap from 15 metres to dot down.

The teams were only separated by one score when captain James Gosden crossed for the bonus point try, with Price maintaining his 100 per cent kicking record.

A confusion over the score due to a lack of score board, with the refereeing believing that Chingford’s lead was 11, not six, points, caused Walden to adopt a more expansive outlook to claw back their deficit, too little avail.

Playing the kind of rugby they were, it is perhaps no surprise they conceded after a making a mistake deep in their own half, which was pounced upon by Chingford to make it 39-28 at full time.